Political Philosophy
Code: 100284 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Philosophy | OB | 2 |
Contact
- Name:
- Aïda Palacios Morales
- Email:
- aida.palacios@uab.cat
Teaching groups languages
You can view this information at the end of this document.
Prerequisites
It is preferable that students have previously passed the course Practical Philosophy.
Objectives and Contextualisation
a) Recognise the main problems and most relevant debates in political philosophy.
b) Adequately interpret, with solvency and thoroughness, political philosophy texts.
c) Integrate concepts and analysis in order to deeply and critaclly respond to political philosophy's basic questions.
Competences
- Analysing and summarising the main arguments of fundamental texts of philosophy in its various disciplines.
- Applying the knowledge of ethics to the moral problems of society, and assessing the implications about the human condition of changes in the world of contemporary techniques.
- Recognising and interpreting topics and problems of philosophy in its various disciplines.
- Students must be capable of applying their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and they should have building arguments and problem resolution skills within their area of study.
- Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
- Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
- Students must have and understand knowledge of an area of study built on the basis of general secondary education, and while it relies on some advanced textbooks it also includes some aspects coming from the forefront of its field of study.
Learning Outcomes
- Accurately drawing up normative texts.
- Accurately using the specific lexicon of the history of philosophy.
- Autonomously searching, selecting and processing information both from structured sources (databases, bibliographies, specialized magazines) and from across the network.
- Correctly, accurately and clearly communicating the acquired philosophical knowledge in oral and written form.
- Effectively communicating and applying the argumentative and textual processes to formal and scientific texts.
- Establishing relationships between science, philosophy, art, religion, politics, etc.
- Expressing both orally and in written form, the issues and basic problems of the philosophical tradition.
- Indicating and summarising the common content of several manifestations of various fields of culture.
- Relating the characteristic elements and factors of the philosophical tradition.
- Students must develop the necessary learning skills to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
- Summarising the main arguments of the great contemporary texts of ethics and political philosophy.
- Summarising the topics and arguments exposed in a classical philosophical debate.
- Using suitable terminology when drawing up an academic text.
Content
- What is political (philosophy)?
- Power
- Freedom
- Justice
- Friendship
Activities and Methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Theoretical expositions of main concepts anc commentary of significant texts. Assessment of course topics and methodology. | 45 | 1.8 | 4, 6, 7, 5, 9, 2 |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Tutorials and elaboration of group work | 22.5 | 0.9 | 8, 3, 4, 1, 7, 5, 13, 10, 11, 12, 2 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Study and reading | 75 | 3 | 8, 3, 6, 10, 9, 11, 12, 2 |
In class, concepts and debates will be introduced, and texts will be commented on. It is essential that students come to class with the texts previously read.
As a supervised activity, students are expected to work in groups on a text and present it in class. Instructions will be given at at the beginning of the course.
Virtual Campus will be used to share materials and as a communication channel.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Assessment
Continous Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final exam | 40% of the final grade | 2.5 | 0.1 | 8, 4, 1, 6, 7, 5, 13, 9, 12, 2 |
| Group work on one text | 15% of the final grade | 2 | 0.08 | 8, 3, 4, 1, 6, 7, 5, 13, 10, 9, 11, 12, 2 |
| Oral exposition | 20% of the final grade | 1.5 | 0.06 | 8, 3, 4, 1, 6, 7, 5, 13, 10, 9, 11, 12, 2 |
| Text commentary | 25% of the final grade | 1.5 | 0.06 | 8, 4, 1, 6, 7, 5, 13, 9, 11, 12, 2 |
Continuous assessment
- Text commentary: on mid-semester, date to be set at the beginning of the course (25%).
- Group work on one of the texts: guidelines will be given at the beginning of the course. It will be necessary to hand it in before the oral presentation (15%).
- Oral presentation based on the group work carried out. Guidelines and timetable will be established at the beginning of the course (20%).
- Final exam: it will consist of short questions and a text commentary (40%).
It is possible that the Department of Philosophy will establish (as will be done during the first semester) a period dedicated to evaluative tests. The teaching staff will indicate whether such a period exists or what the test dates are at the beginning of each course.
The text commentary, the group work and the presentation cannot be re-evaluated.
In order to pass the course, the mark for the final exam must be at least a 5; if it is lower, it will have to be re-evaluated.
Students will obtain a Not assessed/Not submitted course grade unless they have submitted more than 30% of the assessment items.
Single assessment
The three tests will be carried out/delivered on the same day.
- Work on one of the texts (15%).
- Oral presentation based on the work done (35%).
- Final exam: it will consist of short questions and a text commentary (50%).
The same reassessment method as continuous assement will be used.
Assessment review: On carrying out each evaluation activity, lecturers will inform students (on Moodle) of the procedures to be followed for reviewing all grades awarded, and the date on which such a review will take place.
Plagiarism or fraudulent conduct: In case of any irregularity by the student that may lead to a significant variation of the grade of an evaluation act, this evaluation act will be graded with 0, regardlessof thedisciplinary process that may be applied.
IA use: This subject allows the use of AI technologies exclusively for bibliographic or content-based searches. The student must clearly (i) identify which parts have been generated using AI technology; (ii) specify the tools used; and (iii) include a critical reflection on how these have influenced the process and final outcome of the activity. Lack of transparency regarding the use of AI in the assessed activity will be considered academic dishonesty; the corresponding grade may be lowered, or the work may even be awarded a zero. In cases of greater infringement, more serious action may be taken.
Bibliography
Compulsory reading
To be indicated at the beginning of the course.
General Bibliography
Sabine, George H., Historia de la teoría política, Fondo Cultura Económica (FCE), México/Madrid.
Touchard, Jean, Historia de las ideas políticas, Tecnos, Madrid.
Vallespín, Fernando (recop.), Historia de la teoría política, Alianza.
Software
No specific software is needed.
Groups and Languages
Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.
| Name | Group | Language | Semester | Turn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (PAUL) Classroom practices | 1 | Catalan | second semester | morning-mixed |
| (TE) Theory | 1 | Catalan | second semester | morning-mixed |